Oswestry council in public toilets pledge
Monday 4th April 2011, 8:30PM BST.
Oswestry’s town centre toilets need investment and improvements after two decades without money being spent on them, the town council has said.
The public loos adjacent to the Central Car Park were taken over by Oswestry Town Council on Friday after Shropshire Council relinquished its control of several conveniences across the county.
Today town clerk, David Preston revealed that the town had won a one-off grant from the unitary authority to invest in bringing the toilets up to date.
Oswestry’s taxpayers are now having to foot the bill for people to spend a penny in the town.
Earlier this year the town council put an extra £30,000 into its budget purely to take over the running of the toilets. The decision meant a nine per cent increase on the town council’s precept on the council tax.
Mr Preston said the decision to take over the toilets had been subject to negotiations over a hand over grant from Shropshire Council.
“Negotiations over the grant were going on until the eleventh hour,” he said.
“However we were able to have a seamless handover with the public toilets opening as usual on Friday, with no disruption to the public.”
Mr Preston said that after long running talks Shropshire Council had agreed to a £20,000 grant for improvements and upgrading, But he said that the annual running costs would still be met by Oswestry Town Council.
“There had been little investment in the building and the facilities since they were erected more than 20 years ago.The council will be looking at how it can ensure Oswestry retains its toilets.”
Oswestry’s Mayor, Councillor Elaine Channon, said the service was vital.
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After 20 years with no one spending a penny on them. LOL!
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I resent that the Town Council part of the Council Tax has increased because of these toilets. Entry prices should be set to cover the running of them and if not enough people are using them, they should be closed. There are toilets in the park and Sainsbury’s, and also dotted around in pubs, etc.
I realise it is probably mainly elderly people who use them, and that’s a very good reason to try and keep them open, but if they are not being used enough by the paying public, then what’s the point in paying ridiculous amounts of public money to keep them open?
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